Cornhusker Marching Band makes football season debut Sept. 6

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 300-member Cornhusker Marching Band makes its 2025 football season debut Sept. 6 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances during Nebraska’s home opener against Akron.

This year’s band includes representatives from nearly every region of the country, with 79% hailing from Nebraska communities. Twenty-three percent of the members are students in the Glenn Korff School of Music, while the remainder represent more than 70 other academic programs across the university. Each student completed two auditions to earn a spot in the band.

Drum majors for the 2025 marching band are senior Travis Cloyd of Omaha; graduate student Jake Green of Lincoln; senior Tanner Maas of Gretna; and senior Gretchen Muth of Hastings. The twirler is senior Britney Berry of Omaha.

Tony Falcone, associate director of bands in the Korff School, is the director of the Cornhusker Marching Band. Doug Bush is the assistant director of bands and assistant marching band director. Carolyn Barber, Ron and Carol Cope Professor of Music, is director of bands. Other band staff members are graduate teaching assistants Foteini Angeli, Eric Elker and Andrea Mack. Jacob Wrobel is the percussion instructor, and Samantha Houston Brown is the color guard instructor. Rose Johnson is the administrative technician, Jan Deaton is the office associate, and Nolan Schmit is the “voice” of the band.

The Cornhusker Marching Band, which resides in the Korff School, was founded in 1879 as an ROTC unit and is one of the oldest marching bands in the nation. The band has received many honors throughout its 146-year history, including a Distinguished Recognition Trophy presented by John Philip Sousa in 1927 and the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy in 1996. The Sudler Trophy is the highest honor given to collegiate bands.

Kristen Labadie | University Communication and Marketing

The “Pride of All Nebraska” has been seen by millions of viewers on television. The band was the first collegiate ensemble to perform at all the major football bowl games: Rose, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar and Cotton. For more information, visit https://arts.unl.edu/music/CMB.

Following is a list of 2025 Cornhusker Marching Band members by hometown, with instrument or role in band, year in school, and academic major(s) or program of study.

Nebraska

Archer:

• Blaze Blauhorn, tuba, sophomore, computer science.

Aurora:

• Austin Lents, alto saxophone, sophomore, physics.
• Willa Sharp, clarinet, junior, music education.

Bellevue:

• Bella Acosta, piccolo, junior, physics.
• Shane Daughtrey, percussion, junior, music.
• Grace Fettig, piccolo, senior, finance.
• Christopher Nelson, horn, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Jonah Schwarting, percussion, sophomore, pre-health.
• Madeline Woods, color guard, freshman, pre-health.

Bennet:

• Andrew Moyer, trumpet, junior, biological sciences.

Bennington:

• Noah Andersen, trumpet, junior, mechanical engineering.
• Emma Boardman, color guard, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Justine Huse, color guard, sophomore, emerging media arts.
• Parker McIlnay, horn, senior, landscape architecture.
• Jackson Miller, trumpet, junior, chemistry.
• Jocelyn Pohl, color guard, freshman, business analytics.
• Megan Wilkins, clarinet, junior, environmental and sustainability studies.

Blair:

• Peter Lux, trumpet, senior, mechanical engineering.

Cedar Bluffs:

• Hailey Anderson, alto saxophone, senior, music.

Central City:

• Megan Blomstedt, trombone, senior, secondary education.

Ceresco:

• Charlotte Coughlin, tenor saxophone, freshman, biological sciences.

Columbus:

• Ben Gascon, trumpet, junior, architectural studies.
• Brenna Quincy, color guard, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Jaylynn Sylvester, percussion, sophomore, forensic science.
• Brandon Urkoski, trumpet, senior, marketing.

Denton:

• Joel Buettner, baritone, junior, civil engineering.

Elkhorn:

• Elizabeth Aurit, trumpet, freshman, meteorology-climatology.
• Rayne Aurit, trombone, sophomore, statistics and data analytics.
• Amanda Courtney, trumpet, senior, music education.
• Darla Crews, color guard, junior, music education.
• Mike Haugen, tenor saxophone, senior, construction management.
• Ellie Hoegemeyer, clarinet, sophomore, journalism.
• Jonah Holstein, tenor saxophone, senior, criminology and criminal justice.
• Jeremiah Mohring, trumpet, sophomore, music education.
• Adelina Redlin, trumpet, junior, speech-language pathology.
• Lauren Sieck, clarinet, junior, music education.
• Grant Spanel, trombone, sophomore, biological systems engineering.
• Grace Ulrich, clarinet, junior, English and theatre.
• Megan Wilderman, color guard, senior, biological sciences.

Firth:

• Maria Fix, percussion, freshman, microbiology.
• Morrisa Kisling, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Autum Thurber, clarinet, junior, psychology.

Fremont:

• Alexis Frank, color guard, sophomore, graphic design.
• Yukina Higashi, clarinet, senior, music.
• Bethany Miller, trombone, junior, hospitality, restaurant and tourism management.
• Cade Rasmussen, trombone, junior, nutrition and health sciences.

Grand Island:

• Talon Biberos, baritone, freshman, music education.
• Brennan Clark, horn, freshman, music.
• Malik Hansen, tenor saxophone, freshman, music.
• Alekzander Kuebler, alto saxophone, freshman, music education.

Gretna:

• Paige Germer, color guard, sophomore, chemistry.
• Cody Hunter, trombone, sophomore, civil engineering.
• Caleb Jones, tuba, senior, psychology.
• Walker Lee, trombone, senior, computer science.
• Tanner Maas, drum major, senior, actuarial science.
• Charles Morgan, trumpet, freshman, music education.
• Faith Rinaldi, horn, sophomore, psychology.
• Carson Wheeler, trumpet, freshman, actuarial science.
• Emma Willey, piccolo, senior, mechanical engineering.

Hastings:

• Gretchen Muth, drum major, senior, French.
• Taygon Shaw, color guard, senior, textiles, merchandising and fashion design.

Holdrege:

• Blake Harvey, tuba, junior, architectural studies.

Kearney:

• Makayla Maxson, color guard, junior, advertising and public relations.
• Ayden Mitchell, percussion, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Cheyanne Pace, color guard, senior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Devin Tubbs, trumpet, sophomore, sports media and communication.

La Vista:

• Hudson Carrico, horn, sophomore, meteorology-climatology.
• Cooper Cook, trumpet, junior, electrical engineering.
• Reagan McPeck, color guard, sophomore, architectural studies.
• Parker Wolfe, alto saxophone, junior, music and computer science.

Lexington:

• Keri Smith, clarinet, senior, veterinary science.

Lincoln:

• Gavin Addleman, alto saxophone, senior, music education.
• Owen Allison, trombone, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Trevin Anderson, trumpet, freshman, actuarial science.
• Nolan Benbow, clarinet, senior, broadcasting.
• Will Bethune, percussion, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Brody Biberdorf, trombone, junior, journalism.
• Mason Buller, horn, sophomore, undeclared.
• Tori Coleman, color guard, junior, veterinary science.
• Keira Cummins, alto saxophone, junior, actuarial science.
• Josiah Dames, trombone, senior, sports media and communication.
• Makenna Dezort, piccolo, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Blake Ebert, trumpet, freshman, finance.
• Darrion Edwards, trombone, sophomore, undeclared.
• Amelia Farber, horn, sophomore, elementary education.
• Liam Fitzgerald, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Jayleigh Fuller, piccolo, senior, chemistry.
• Kyle Geschwender, alto saxophone, sophomore, undeclared.
• Addie Going, color guard, senior, history.
• Jake Green, drum major, graduate student, mechanical engineering and applied mechanics.
• Brady Groves, trumpet, sophomore, geography.
• Samuel Hanson, trombone, junior, philosophy.
• Kasey Hazen, baritone, freshman, computer engineering.
• John Helter, alto saxophone, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Logan Henning, tuba, freshman, music.
• Ryne Hermsen, tenor saxophone, junior, secondary education (social sciences).
• Kamryn Hertzel, color guard, sophomore, criminology and criminal justice.
• Tye Hollmann, percussion, freshman, music.
• Jane Jewell, trombone, junior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Larsen Jorgensen, piccolo, senior, elementary education.
• Nuhad Khan, tenor saxophone, sophomore, music and biological sciences.
• Cameron Krueger, baritone, senior, civil engineering.
• Mirabella Kundhi, tenor saxophone, sophomore, emerging media arts.
• Alexandria Lionberger, clarinet, freshman, history.
• Alison Lundstedt, color guard, sophomore, anthropology.
• Alaina Miller, piccolo, freshman, management.
• Sage Monismith, piccolo, senior, architectural studies.
• Ian Nebesniak, trombone, junior, landscape architecture.
• Matthew Nguyen, alto saxophone, freshman, data science.
• Addison Novacek, trombone, freshman, secondary education (mathematics).
• Jenna Olson, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Ryan Olson, trombone, sophomore, music education.
• Trevin Overton, baritone, senior, architectural studies.
• Parker Peterson, horn, junior, software engineering.
• Preston Pierce, trumpet, junior, music education.
• Alex Quible, percussion, sophomore, music.
• Grace Sandbulte, piccolo, sophomore, pre-health.
• Natalie Schmersal, piccolo, junior, emerging media arts.
• Savannah Schutte, color guard, senior, mathematics.
• Alex Schwarz, horn, sophomore, computer science.
• Logan Seybert, percussion, sophomore, architectural studies.
• Ryan Sodomka, trombone, junior, music education.
• Nick Sprague, trumpet, sophomore, nutrition and health sciences.
• Christian Staehr, baritone, sophomore, history.
• Julia Steffensmeier, trumpet, junior, music education.
• Holly Stoebner, tuba, junior, biological sciences.
• Velicity Sundling, color guard, senior, criminology and criminal justice.
• Andrew Tangen, trombone, senior, supply chain management.
• Katy Taylor, color guard, junior, actuarial science.
• Cora Vander Woude, trumpet, freshman, undeclared.
• Lauren Vogel, color guard, junior, psychology.
• Cole Welstead, tuba, sophomore, computer science.
• Gavin Wiechman, trumpet, freshman, construction management.
• Ryder Williams, percussion, freshman, music education.
• Seth Woodward, piccolo, junior, biochemistry.
• Yasmin Worth, color guard, senior, biochemistry.
• Cyrus Zgud, piccolo, junior, music.

Monroe:

• Perah Connelly, color guard, sophomore, biological systems engineering.

Nebraska City:

• Kiera Rakowski, clarinet, junior, mechanical engineering.

Norfolk:

• Alex Cook, alto saxophone, junior, theatre.
• Noah Janke, trombone, junior, mechanical engineering.
• Amelia Pinkelman, trombone, sophomore, biochemistry.

North Platte:

• Levi Luenenborg, trumpet, sophomore, software engineering.
• Dawson McGahan, tuba, senior, computer engineering and electrical engineering.
• Haylee Nolda, clarinet, sophomore, pre-health.
• Lexi Nolda, clarinet, junior, nutrition and health sciences.

Omaha:

• Jack Adair, tenor saxophone, freshman, food science and technology.
• Dylan Asmus, baritone, sophomore, actuarial science.
• Britney Berry, twirler, senior, speech-language pathology.
• Adam Blaker, percussion, junior, music education.
• Madison Bonham, horn, freshman, music.
• Nate Bruck, trumpet, freshman, business and law.
• Elizabeth Buescher, piccolo, freshman, music.
• Emma Cheshek, piccolo, sophomore, music.
• Patrick Clark, alto saxophone, freshman, broadcasting, and sports media and communication.
• Travis Cloyd, drum major, senior, chemical engineering.
• Madeline Condon, clarinet, sophomore, music.
• Maddux Eckles, trumpet, sophomore, music education.
• Jonathan Friesen, percussion, junior, pre-health.
• David Garcia, horn, sophomore, finance.
• Sasha Gates, color guard, sophomore, biological sciences.
• Gavin Gillespie, percussion, senior, music education.
• Lily Gliske, horn, freshman, history.
• Arquimedez Halsey, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• John Heldridge, percussion, junior, music education.
• Sean Higgins, percussion, junior, music education.
• McKaylee Houng, trombone, sophomore, music.
• Jaeda Jeffries, clarinet, senior, construction management.
• Faith Johnson, tenor saxophone, freshman, physics.
• Karyssa Johnson, horn, junior, economics.
• Kaitlyn Johnston, clarinet, freshman, biochemistry.
• Blake Kahler, percussion, sophomore, marketing.
• Samuel Kleffman, tenor saxophone, freshman, psychology.
• Sophia Korth, color guard, freshman, marketing.
• Hannah Kress, clarinet, sophomore, nutrition and health sciences.
• Austin Landmark, trumpet, sophomore, chemical engineering.
• Martin Lopez, trumpet, freshman, sports media and communication.
• Latron Louis, alto saxophone, sophomore, music.
• Jacob Maroon, trombone, junior, biological sciences.
• Chuck McIver, percussion, senior, computer engineering.
• Mason Miller, trumpet, freshman, computer science (Raikes School).
• Kyla Niiya, trumpet, sophomore, psychology.
• Will Nitzschke, tuba, senior, accounting.
• Brenden Olson, trumpet, sophomore, software engineering.
• Marisa Powell, color guard, freshman, civil engineering.
• Katherine Schlosser, clarinet, junior, psychology.
• Davin Seeger, percussion, junior, music education.
• Collin Siracuse, tuba, senior, computer science.
• Charlie Smith, percussion, junior, music education.
• Henry Smith, trumpet, sophomore, undeclared.
• Savannah Snawerdt, color guard, senior, special education (K-6).
• Madi Sommerer, color guard, freshman, undeclared.
• Ryan Swierczek Jr., horn, senior, music education.
• Gudelia Tepox, trumpet, junior, forensic science.
• Tate Underwood, alto saxophone, junior, finance.
• Vanessa Uwase, tuba, sophomore, civil engineering.
• Presley Vondra, color guard, freshman, undeclared.
• Alexander Voss, percussion, sophomore, computer engineering.
• Chloe Walkenhorst, baritone, freshman, meteorology-climatology.
• Titus Willems, trumpet, freshman, civil engineering.
• Colin Worthington, clarinet, junior, music education.

Osmond:

• Kaden Polt, trumpet, junior, fisheries and wildlife.

Palmyra:

• Oscar Thomas, tenor saxophone, junior, mechanical engineering.

Papillion:

• Mason Amsberry, horn, sophomore, music education.
• Dylan Auld, baritone, junior, music education.
• Josh Blazek, baritone, senior, music and mechanical engineering.
• Owen Bottjen, trumpet, sophomore, music education.
• Devin Countryman, alto saxophone, junior, animal science.
• James Kessler, trumpet, junior, biological sciences, and fisheries and wildlife.
• Meredith Koehler, alto saxophone, junior, emerging media arts.
• Anna Leahy, clarinet, senior, music education.
• Ashley Llewellyn, trumpet, senior, animal science.
• Jonah Lubberstedt, tuba, freshman, pre-health.
• Gavin Mielke, horn, junior, architectural studies.
• Evan Redemske, percussion, freshman, architectural studies.
• Zhenja Wallin, percussion, junior, music education.
• John Temple, trumpet, freshman, music.

Plattsmouth:

• Jaden Horner, baritone, senior, graphic design.
• Melanie Ostrander, tuba, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Ponca:

• Matthew Lentz, trombone, senior, nutrition and health sciences.

Ravenna:

• Lainey Hervert, piccolo, freshman, music.

Roca:

• Barrett Stueven, trombone, freshman, business administration.
• Pete Wasser, trombone, sophomore, electrical engineering.
• Gionna Weber, tenor saxophone, senior, elementary education.

Schuyler:

• Joel Medina, trombone, sophomore, music.

Scottsbluff:

• Caleb Winterbottom, baritone, freshman, mechanical engineering.

South Sioux City:

• Tanner Miller, alto saxophone, senior, music education.

Wahoo:

• Kyra Scanlon, trumpet, senior, biological sciences.
• Jesse Stebbing, trumpet, sophomore, physics.

Wausa:

• Jarrett Andersen, tuba, senior, chemistry and secondary education.

Waverly:

• Allison Brandl, trombone, freshman, child, youth and family studies.
• Nathaniel Cloud, trombone, junior, microbiology.
• Olivia Cupp-Whiteman, clarinet, freshman, data science.
• Brynley Prang, clarinet, junior, mechanical engineering.
• Alyssa Rine, clarinet, freshman, music.

Wayne:

• Ceilus Ibarra, piccolo, freshman, music.

York:

• Katelyn Ecklund, piccolo, freshman, environmental science.
• Ellie Gartner, tuba, sophomore, criminology and criminal justice.

Elsewhere in the U.S.

ALABAMA:

Auburn:

• Dracen Pedersen, baritone, sophomore, emerging media arts.

ARIZONA:

Marana:

• Tessa Soukup, piccolo, junior, architectural studies.

COLORADO:

Fort Collins:

• Katie Kuskie, piccolo, freshman, music.

Grand Junction:

• Vivika Ortiz, piccolo, senior, criminology and criminal justice.

Highlands Ranch:

• Brett Vogler, trumpet, sophomore, music.

Parker:

• Nick Mowery, trumpet, senior, construction management.

Thornton:

• Jessica Jacoby-Campbell, clarinet, senior, graphic design.

GEORGIA:

Marietta:

• Ibrahim Shaikh, alto saxophone, freshman, biochemistry.

ILLINOIS:

Albers:

• Rainer Bretz, alto saxophone, freshman, economics.

Arlington Heights:

• Delaney McCabe, color guard, sophomore, business and law.

Downers Grove:

• Josh Ronquillo, color guard, sophomore, biochemistry and chemistry.

Geneva:

• Brock Mason, trumpet, junior, actuarial science.

Glenview:

• Hayden Giannini, percussion, junior, music education.

Naperville:

• Benjamin Kujawa, trumpet, sophomore, accounting.

Plainfield:

• Brandon Muff, tuba, senior, software engineering.

Round Lake:

• Angela Sementa, color guard, junior, nutrition and health sciences, and dance.

IOWA:

Ankeny:

• Clara Freese, tuba, senior, fisheries and wildlife, and grassland systems.
• Olivia Kuper, percussion, senior, biological sciences.
• Avryn Schardt, percussion, senior, advertising and public relations.

Council Bluffs:

• Terry Larkin, percussion, senior, music education.

Le Claire:

• Grace Lawrence, trumpet, freshman, psychology.

Red Oak:

• Sam Fields, tuba, junior, nutrition and health sciences.
• Jonah Wemhoff, trombone, sophomore, music education.

Shenandoah:

• Eli Schuster, horn, senior, nutrition and health sciences.
• Josh Schuster, alto saxophone, senior, microbiology.

Sioux Center:

• William Hurst, trumpet, junior, music education.

KANSAS:

Leawood:

• Dylan Levitan, percussion, sophomore, chemical engineering.

Lenexa:

• Erin Kiewiet, piccolo, junior, political science.

Mission:

• Lincoln King, clarinet, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Olathe:

• Cameron Eckdahl, percussion, sophomore, music education.

Salina:

• Amarah Jordan, color guard, freshman, graphic design.

Topeka:

• Kwame James, percussion, freshman, nutrition and health sciences.

MARYLAND:

Leonardtown:

• Bobby Coleman, tuba, junior, advertising and public relations.

MICHIGAN:

Parma:

• Maddy Cotey, color guard, sophomore, secondary education (mathematics).

MINNESOTA:

Lakeville:

• Garrett Siefken, baritone, sophomore, music.

Maple Plain:

• Claire Erb, percussion, sophomore, music education.

Minneapolis:

• Daniel Beckman, trumpet, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Webster:

• Lanae Maas, alto saxophone, senior, plant and landscape systems.

MISSOURI:

Independence:

• Austin Samson, tenor saxophone, junior, forensic science.

Kansas City:

• Kara Fitzpatrick, alto saxophone, sophomore, music.

Parkville:

• Emma Kimbrel, baritone, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).

NEW JERSEY:

Sewell:

• Isabella Donia, piccolo, senior, computer engineering.

NEW YORK:

Rochester:

• Isabella Kennah, alto saxophone, junior, political science and environmental engineering.

OHIO:

Mentor:

• Vivianne Clark, tenor saxophone, senior, English.

OKLAHOMA:

Tulsa:

• Keagan Sponsler, horn, freshman, emerging media arts.

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Brandon:

• William McCarthy, tuba, freshman, computer engineering.
• Anna Tews, piccolo, senior, biochemistry.

Brookings:

• Chloe Heermann, piccolo, freshman, biological sciences.

Lennox:

• Nate Collette, trumpet, junior, music.

Sioux Falls:

• Aaron Burchill, percussion, senior, emerging media arts.
• Charley Larsen, clarinet, freshman, chemical engineering.
• William Quick, alto saxophone, freshman, pre-dentistry.
• Ethan Rohr, baritone, junior, music.
• McKenzie Swearingen, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Matthew Wang, trombone, senior, computer science.
• Valley Springs:
• Dante Tooley, trombone, freshman, music.

Watertown:

• Kate Luken, piccolo, junior, Spanish and international business.

TEXAS:

College Station:

• Catelyn Cox, alto saxophone, junior, nutrition and health sciences.

Plano:

• Matthew Johnson, percussion, freshman, computer science.

Rosharon:

• Natalie Nietes-Geren, alto saxophone, freshman, microbiology.

WASHINGTON:

Mercer Island:

• Julian Jay, tenor saxophone, sophomore, pre-health.

WISCONSIN:

Fond du Lac:

• Nikki Elm, tuba, senior, geology.